Stock Market & Financial Investment News

Total, Lukoil collaborate on Siberian Bazhenov shale oil, Reuters saysLukoil (LUKOY) and Total (TOT) have signed an agreement to develop the Bazhenov shale oil fields in western Siberia, according to Reuters, citing Interfax news agency who quoted Lukoil CEO Vagit Alekperov. The CEO did not doll out any extra details or clarify if the deal was signed after Russia annexed Crimea. Reference Link

Saudi Arabia aims to become second-largest refined oil exporter, WSJ saysSaudi Arabia's oil minister Ali al-Naimi said Wednesday it plans to become the world's second-largest refined oil product exporter by 2017, reports the Wall Street Journal, citing statements given at a conference. Two new refineries in Saudi Arabia will add 800,000 BPD this year, and a planned 2017 refinery in Jazan will bring the kingdom's total capacity to over 3M BPD. Publicly traded companies in the space include BP (BP), Chevron (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) and Total (TOT). Reference Link

USW to expand ULP oil strikeThe United Steelworkers, USW, announced that it will expand its unfair labor practice strike, ULP, by launching a work stoppage tonight at midnight at the Motiva Enterprises refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. This refinery, a 50-50 joint venture between Shell Oil Company and Saudi Refining, produces more than 600,000 barrels per day. In addition, 24 hour strike notices were delivered at Motiva’s two Louisiana refineries in Convent and Norco as well as at the Shell Chemical plant in Norco. Capacity at these facilities is 235,000 and 238,000. These refineries are also jointly operated by Royal Dutch Shell and Saudi Refining, Inc. of Saudi Arabia. “The industry’s refusal to meaningfully address safety issues through good faith bargaining gave us no other option but to expand our work stoppage,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. Publicly traded companies in the space include BP (BP), Chevron (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) and Total (TOT). Reference Link